Bruins going back to ground

Since coming to Rock Bridge as a football assistant in 2001, A.J. Ofodile had never experienced a losing season with the Bruins.

The string of success, which included a 30-11 mark in his first four seasons as the Rock Bridge head coach, had Ofodile unprepared for what happened last year.

"When you win for so long, after a while - not that we were Rockhurst playing for state championships every year - but you get to the point where you just expect to win every season," Ofodile said. "I think we maybe thought that's just how it's going to be.

"We learned the hard way, 'No, it's not.' "

Graduating several talented players from a squad that went 9-1 in 2006, Rock Bridge revamped its roster and Ofodile overhauled his offense.

The changes never took, the offense didn't get off the ground, and the Bruins suffered through a disastrous 1-9 campaign.

The humbling experience taught Ofodile some harsh lessons.

"I can guarantee I'm a better coach today than I was 12 months ago," Ofodile said. "You go back through and look at every aspect of your program and what went wrong and what you would have done differently.

"We all performed poorly, across the board, but to go the route I went - to have the arrogance to think we could do what we tried to do - is flat out bad coaching."

After watching his battered team get outscored by an average of 24 points a game, Ofodile beat himself up for installing a shotgun, no-huddle passing offense that barely gave running the ball a second thought. As he prepared for the 2008 season, Ofodile made it a point to return a running game to Rock Bridge.

Ofodile wants his team to be more physical, and he believes he has the personnel to grind out victories. The next step is convincing his players they can bounce back.

"We're cautiously optimistic coming off the season we just went through, and that's going to play a big part in it," Ofodile said. "We have a lot of these same kids that went through that. Are they going to be able to believe that we can be a successful team?"

OFFENSE

Only two starters return from a unit that averaged 16.9 points a game. The Bruins are replacing every starting skill position player from last year, including tailback Andrew Byrd, who moved back to Sedalia for his junior year.

? Quarterback: Darryn Hill beat out sophomores Shawn Rush and Mark Pickerel for the starting spot. The left-handed junior possesses a solid arm and good mobility but won't be asked to carry the offense like Rock Bridge's past three quarterbacks, who all secured Division I scholarships.

"He throws a very good ball and is good on the run," Ofodile said. "We'll have to do some things different with him."

? Running backs: The brunt of the offensive load should fall on the shoulders of Tedder Easton and Jaimonte Cooper. The senior duo is expected to split time in the backfield and become the focal point of the Bruins' new offensive approach.

"We're going to run the ball a lot more," Ofodile said. "We're going to try to establish everything we do off the run."

Easton returns with the most backfield experience. The 6-foot, 225-pounder was expected to split time in the backfield with Byrd last year but finished with only 68 yards on 16 carries. Ofodile plans to give Easton, who dropped about 30 pounds in the offseason, every opportunity to carry the load this year.

"With a back like that, you have to give him a lot of carries and let him get going and wear on people," Ofodile said. "We didn't let him get going, and that kind of got him off rhythm."

Cooper, who started on defense last year, is the lightning to Easton's thunder. A deep thigh bruise slowed him early in practice, but Cooper is expected to be healthy for the opener.

"He's developed a lot in the offseason as a pass-catcher and a speed guy," Ofodile said.

? Receivers/tight ends: The Bruins lost their top five receivers and return no starting experience here, but Ofodile isn't too concerned considering the team's change in offensive philosophy. He intends to use more two- and three-tight end formations to utilize the size and talent of seniors Jarred Henry, Kevin Jursek and junior Trey Millard.

Henry, the son of former Hickman and Utah standout Rocky Henry, appears poised for a big season. The 6-1, 210-pounder was ineligible for varsity play last year after transferring to Rock Bridge.

When the Bruins get in passing situations, senior receivers Mac Cooper, Ian Kleekamp and Colby Gerau will be called on. The trio combined for only five catches last year, but Ofodile is expecting a lot more production.

"That group is probably the most improved as far as taking themselves from one level to another in a year," Ofodile said. "Colby has really come on strong and is a leader at the position."

? Linemen: Two big bodies that landed Division I scholarships graduated from this group that struggled mightily to protect the quarterback. Ofodile plans to let his big boys throw their weight around a lot more.

"We just put those guys in a bad situation," Ofodile said. "We became very predictable last year in some of the things we were doing."

Juniors Skylar Hinton (6-3, 295) and Chase Rome (6-2, 265) return with starting experience, and senior newcomer Okoye West (6-2, 260) has locked down another starting spot. West, a transfer from Boonville who did not play football last year, has been a pleasant surprise.

"He looks like he was a varsity starter for somebody a year ago," Ofodile said.

Junior Patrick Heflin (5-10, 215) is the starting center, and senior David Smith (5-10, 235) and junior Josh Capron (6-2, 235) are battling for the starting spot at right guard.

Juniors Rusty Hudson and Jason Carmichael will be counted on to spell the starters.

DEFENSE

Seven players return with starting experience on this side of the ball, and Ofodile is counting on this unit to be the strength of his squad. That will require a lot of improvement for a team that allowed 40.9 points a game, but the new ball-control offense should combine well with this athletic group.

"Athletically, I would say we'll rival a lot of teams out there as far as size and speed and coordination," Ofodile said. "We have a lot of guys who can do some things."

? Linemen: Ofodile has been impressed by the play of this group, which returns starting ends Rome and Jursek. Rome collected 47 tackles last year and, according to Ofodile, was having the best preseason camp of all his defensive players.

"He's been pretty much unblockable for us," Ofodile said.

A rotation of players could fill out the interior. West, Heflin and Hinton should see plenty of playing time, with Hudson also in the mix.

? Linebacker: Millard and Easton return for their second season in the middle of the Bruins defense. Easton made 43 tackles last year, and the 6-2, 230-pound Millard quickly evolved into a blue-chip recruit after leading Rock Bridge with 101 tackles. Millard's already received a scholarship offer from Missouri and dropped 25 pounds in the offseason in an effort to improve his mobility.

? Secondary: The Bruins intercepted only five passes last year, and they would certainly like to improve on that total. Mac Cooper, who is penciled in at free safety, made one of those picks.

Jaimonte Cooper, Kleekamp and senior Trevor Brockman are in the mix at cornerback, with the versatile Gerau backing up where needed.

Senior Caullin Hudson looks like the starter at strong safety, with Adams expected to back him up.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Sophomore Sheldon Gerau and junior Josh Litofsky are battling for the kicking duties. Litofsky, also a member of the soccer team, might possess the stronger leg.

Senior John Morgan is back for his second season as the punter.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The schedule is tough but probably not as difficult as last year's slate that included five playoff teams along with local rivals Hickman and Jefferson City. A couple of early-season wins could do wonders for a squad trying to regain its confidence. After watching the Bruins air it out the past several years, it will be interesting to see how they fare trying to grind out wins with their running game and defense. A district that features perennial state powers Blue Springs and Blue Springs South does the Bruins no favors, but with the new playoff format, a second-place district finish is all it takes to advance.

Reach Rus Baer at (573) 815-1787 or rbaer@tribmail.com.

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